Listen to French producer Débruit’s new synth track “Gelecek,” recorded in Istanbul

French producer Débruit recorded his upcoming album, Débruit & Istanbul (due out May 27 via ICI), in Istanbul, Turkey, with the help of some important guest artists—including jazz-fusion percussionist Okay Temiz (he played with Don Cherry) and ’70s funk hero Mustapha Özkent.

Listen to the track “Gelecek” above.

The album—an imaginative interpretation of one of the most historically significant cities in the world—was commissioned by the Europalia Arts Festival, which has been organizing arts biennials since 1969, focusing on a different guest country each time.

“I wanted this album to be driven by the feelings I got from Istanbul and my encounters,” says Xavier Thomas aka Débruit. “The city’s enthusiasm and majestic urban and topographic flows inspired light but deep moods: there is a darkness in there but a proud one. A roughness in control. Istanbul has such an inspiring mix of tradition and forward-thinking vision. It has a pulse of its very own. Its impossible to put into words the excitement, surprises, and magic of making this album. Of the experiences of trying to find these people, walking up unknown streets or taking the boat to the Asian side. Discovering the city at the same time as being on the album journey, going to neighborhoods I wouldn’t have been to if it wasn’t for recording. All that influence, infusing my imagination and creativity at the same time.”

During his fifteen days in Istanbul, Débruit worked on an imaginative interpretation of the city carried by the megalopolis through its meanders. He collaborated with established artists—as noted above—along with gypsy master clarinettist Cüneyt Sepetçi and rising and grass-roots local musicians such as art-rock singer Gaye Su Akyol, Melike Şahin, and Murat Ertel of BaBa ZuLa. The inspiration of sounds, rhythms, lights, and tempo of the city at different moments in time have resulted in a melting pot of traditional, visionary, electric, psychedelic, futuristic, melodic, and experimental music.